14:1  EAGERLY PURSUE {and} seek to acquire [this] love [make it your aim, your great quest]; and earnestly desire {and} cultivate the spiritual endowments (gifts), especially that you may prophesy (interpret the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching).

14:2  For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands {or} catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths {and} hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].

14:3  But [on the other hand], the one who prophesies [who interprets the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching] speaks to men for their upbuilding {and} constructive spiritual progress and encouragement and consolation.

14:4  He who speaks in a [strange] tongue edifies {and} improves himself, but he who prophesies [interpreting the divine will and purpose and teaching with inspiration] edifies {and} improves the church {and} promotes growth [in Christian wisdom, piety, holiness, and happiness].

14:5  Now I wish that you might all speak in [unknown] tongues, but more especially [I want you] to prophesy (to be inspired to preach and interpret the divine will and purpose). He who prophesies [who is inspired to preach and teach] is greater (more useful and more important) than he who speaks in [unknown] tongues, unless he should interpret [what he says], so that the church may be edified {and} receive good [from it].

14:6  Now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in [unknown] tongues, how shall I make it to your advantage unless I speak to you either in revelation (disclosure of God's will to man) in knowledge or in prophecy or in instruction?

14:7  If even inanimate musical instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone [listening] know {or} understand what is played?

14:8  And if the war bugle gives an uncertain (indistinct) call, who will prepare for battle?

14:9  Just so it is with you; if you in the [unknown] tongue speak words that are not intelligible, how will anyone understand what you are saying? For you will be talking into empty space!

14:10  There are, I suppose, all these many [to us unknown] tongues in the world [somewhere], and none is destitute of [its own power of] expression {and} meaning.

14:11  But if I do not know the force {and} significance of the speech (language), I shall seem to be a foreigner to the one who speaks [to me], and the speaker who addresses [me] will seem a foreigner to me.

14:12  So it is with yourselves; since you are so eager {and} ambitious to possess spiritual endowments {and} manifestations of the [Holy] Spirit, [concentrate on] striving to excel {and} to abound [in them] in ways that will build up the church.

14:13  Therefore, the person who speaks in an [unknown] tongue should pray [for the power] to interpret {and} explain what he says.

14:14  For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit [by the Holy Spirit within me] prays, but my mind is unproductive [it bears no fruit and helps nobody].

14:15  Then what am I to do? I will pray with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will also pray [intelligently] with my mind {and} understanding; I will sing with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will sing [intelligently] with my mind {and} understanding also.

14:16  Otherwise, if you bless {and} render thanks with [your] spirit [thoroughly aroused by the Holy Spirit], how can anyone in the position of an outsider {or} he who is not gifted with [interpreting of unknown] tongues, say the Amen to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? [I Chron. 16:36; Ps. 106:48.]

14:17  To be sure, you may give thanks well (nobly), but the bystander is not edified [it does him no good].

14:18  I thank God that I speak in [strange] tongues (languages) more than any of you {or} all of you put together;

14:19  Nevertheless, in public worship, I would rather say five words with my understanding {and} intelligently in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a [strange] tongue (language).

14:20  Brethren, do not be children [immature] in your thinking; continue to be babes in [matters of] evil, but in your minds be mature [men].

14:21  It is written in the Law, By men of strange languages {and} by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and not even then will they listen to Me, says the Lord.

14:22  Thus [unknown] tongues are meant for a [supernatural] sign, not for believers but for unbelievers [on the point of believing], while prophecy (inspired preaching and teaching, interpreting the divine will and purpose) is not for unbelievers [on the point of believing] but for believers.

14:23  Therefore, if the whole church assembles and all of you speak in [unknown] tongues, and the ungifted {and} uninitiated or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are demented?

14:24  But if all prophesy [giving inspired testimony and interpreting the divine will and purpose] and an unbeliever or untaught outsider comes in, he is told of his sin {and} reproved {and} convicted {and} convinced by all, and his defects {and} needs are examined (estimated, determined) {and} he is called to account by all,

14:25  The secrets of his heart are laid bare; and so, falling on [his] face, he will worship God, declaring that God is among you in very truth.

14:26  What then, brethren, is [the right course]? When you meet together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a disclosure of special knowledge {or} information, an utterance in a [strange] tongue, or an interpretation of it. [But] let everything be constructive {and} edifying {and} for the good of all.

14:27  If some speak in a [strange] tongue, let the number be limited to two or at the most three, and each one [taking his] turn, and let one interpret {and} explain [what is said].

14:28  But if there is no one to do the interpreting, let each of them keep still in church and talk to himself and to God.

14:29  So let two or three prophets speak [those inspired to preach or teach], while the rest pay attention {and} weigh {and} discern what is said.

14:30  But if an inspired revelation comes to another who is sitting by, then let the first one be silent.

14:31  For in this way you can give testimony [prophesying and thus interpreting the divine will and purpose] one by one, so that all may be instructed and all may be stimulated {and} encouraged;

14:32  For the spirits of the prophets (the speakers in tongues) are under the speaker's control [and subject to being silenced as may be necessary],

14:33  For He [Who is the source of their prophesying] is not a God of confusion {and} disorder but of peace {and} order. As [is the practice] in all the churches of the saints (God's people),

14:34  The women should keep quiet in the churches, for they are not authorized to speak, but should take a secondary {and} subordinate place, just as the Law also says.

14:35  But if there is anything they want to learn, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to talk in church [for her to usurp and exercise authority over men in the church].

14:36  What! Did the word of the Lord originate with you [Corinthians], or has it reached only you?

14:37  If anyone thinks {and} claims that he is a prophet [filled with and governed by the Holy Spirit of God and inspired to interpret the divine will and purpose in preaching or teaching] or has any other spiritual endowment, let him understand (recognize and acknowledge) that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord.

14:38  But if anyone disregards {or} does not recognize [that it is a command of the Lord], he is disregarded {and} not recognized [he is one whom God knows not].

14:39  So [to conclude], my brethren, earnestly desire {and} set your hearts on prophesying (on being inspired to preach and teach and to interpret God's will and purpose), and do not forbid {or} hinder speaking in [unknown] tongues.

14:40  But all things should be done with regard to decency {and} propriety and in an orderly fashion.